11-4 MN COVID-19 Update: 3,844 Cases a New Daily High, ICU Beds Grow Scarce

MN COVID-19 Update from the Minnesota Department of Health 11-4-2020

Read the 11-2-2020 COVID-19 Update from the Minnesota Department of Health Here

The Minnesota Department of Health will hold a conference call Wednesday at 2 p.m. to brief members of the media on the latest public health information regarding COVID-19. This is a summary of that call. 

MDH Commissioner Jan Malcolm:

• Globally, 47.7 million cases since pandemic began; 1.22 million deaths
• In U.S., 9.47 million cases since start of pandemic (up 92,000 cases over prior day); 233,000 deaths (up 1,069 over previous day)
• In Minnesota, 160,923 total confirmed cases (up 3,844 cases)
• 3,844 cases is new daily high in Minnesota
  • New COVID case reported in every county in Minnesota
  • Expects Minnesota case count to reach 4,000 for first time
• In Minnesota 2,530 deaths (up 31 deaths)
  • Among the deaths: one person in their 30s, one in 50s, both with underlying health conditions.
• 7-day case test positivity rate now 9.2% (up from 6.6% week prior)
• Using “wildfire” analogy, “I t feels like we’re losing ground,” said Malcolm on efforts to manage the virus in Minnesota. “The level of virus circulating in our communities is at an all-time high.”
• “Gathering in a group of people is risky right now,” Malcolm said.
• 887 Minnesotans currently hospitalized with COVID-19, 219 in Minnesota ICUs.
• Efforts continue on mail-order saliva testing pilot program before full state rollout. Rollout expected in next week or so.
• 18,000 people tested in Brooklyn Park, nearly 1,700 a day. Case positivity rate continues to grow at these sites.
  • 12% positivity rate at saliva testing sites across state.
  • Brooklyn Park has produced biggest turnout of all the saliva testing sites.
• “We’re building an infrastructure to make it possible that people can get tested when and where they need to.”

MDH Infectious Disease Director Kris Ehresmann:

• On upcoming deer hunting season that starts this weekend: “The same considerations you need to keep in mind in other settings are ones to keep in mind while you are hunting.”
• Contact tracers try to get in touch with COVID-19 positive people within 24 hours.
  • Make sure to let people know you’ve tested positive if you’ve come in contact with them. That includes the 48 hours before developing symptoms or getting a positive test.
  • Close contact is 15 cumulative minutes of exposure.
  • Stay home at least 10 days after diagnosis and until your symptoms resolve.

Q&A Session and Notes:

• On reports of ICU beds scarce in the Twin Cities. Malcolm: “As these numbers continue to go up, we’re concerned about capacity.” May need to delay some less time-sensitive procedures.
  • Twin Cities metro ICU bed capacity is 98% in use.
  • Statewide, it’s 92% in use.
• Also a staffing shortage due to frontline health care workers diagnosed with COVID-19.
  • “Our guidance is that we want health care workers who are infected to isolate for the full duration,” said Ehresmann, referring to recommended quarantine period.
• What happens if ICU bed capacity reaches 100%? Malcolm: Some of the systems are moving patients regionally and deferring less-critical services.
• Doctors and nurses reporting it’s taking longer to get beds and seeing the transfer of patients farther out regionally.

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